Kenyetta Fears Byrd
Social Work
Aurora,CO
Summary
Experienced social service worker with over 15 years of exciting intrinsic change in youth and adults. Proven track record of meeting the needs of the vulnerable population through effective advocacy, strategic service coordination and accessing community supports.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Certification Case Worker
Denver Human Services
10.2021 - Current
- Responsible for initial and ongoing certification for general foster, and relative-kinship foster homes.
- Conduct monthly home visits and complete yearly assessments of foster homes in efforts of accessing the family's ability to care for foster children as well as the progress of the children placed in the home.
- Effectively partner with with foster families through their foster care journey.
- Monitor monthly foster reimbursement to foster providers.
Social Services Case Worker
Denver Human Services
12.2017 - 10.2021
- Worked to establish permanency for youth and children in states custody.
- Empowered families through strength-based approaches that reinforced existing strengths while mitigating risks in efforts of establishing reunification.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to create comprehensive strategies to address clients" physical, emotional, social, and financial needs.
- Implemented crisis intervention strategies to support clients facing urgent challenges such as homelessness or domestic violence situations.
- Enhanced community resources for clients by establishing and maintaining relationships with local agencies and organizations.
- Provided expert testimony and prepared comprehensive reports that allow the court to make findings and recommendations that affect court-ordered treatment plans.
Student At Risk Coordinator
Communities In Schools-Goose Creek School District
10.2016 - 12.2017
- Developed and Implemented school-wide supports focusing on prevention, student daily attendance, academic enrichment, and support for school culture and climate.
- Created and facilitated student groups that addressed character development and self-efficacy.
- Encouraged parental educational participation by conducting self-empowerment workshops to include employment and parenting skills for families.
- Provided tutoring, elevating students academic performance.
Family Development Worker
Harris County Education-Early Head Start
03.2014 - 10.2016
- Empowered students and families through case planning that targeted needs of students and families such as, academics, health care, housing, parenting skills and mental health.
- Engaged community leaders to participate in student mentorship.
- Conducted center-based literacy workshops to increase early literacy awareness.
- Overseen the programs enrollment capacity by recruiting and assessing students program eligibility.
Foster Care and Adoption Worker
Therapeutic Family Life
07.2011 - 03.2014
- Coordinated foster care placement of youth placed in care.
- Identified the needs of foster homes as well as the emotional, physical and educational needs of the children placed in the homes.
- Monitored foster homes for safety and foster compliance.
Juvenile Probation Officer
Saline County Community Corrections
01.2006 - 07.2010
- Served as head juvenile officer within two Kansas counties to oversee the placement and services of youth placed into JJA Custody to include; substance and psychiatric treatment facilities and foster homes.
- Facilitated aftercare for youth and young adults discharged from correctional facilities.
- Testified in court proceedings as needed, providing clear recommendations based on thorough evaluations and knowledge of best practices in juvenile justice.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to ensure a comprehensive approach in addressing the needs of youth under supervision.
- Promoted restorative justice principles within the community through collaboration with victim advocates, law enforcement agencies, schools, and other stakeholders.
Adult and Adolescent Mental Health Case Manager
Central Kansas Mental Health Center
06.2003 - 01.2006
- Educated families about mental health conditions, helping them understand their loved one''s needs and supporting them throughout the treatment process.
- Coordinated care transitions between different levels of care, ensuring seamless continuity of services for clients during critical periods in their recovery journey.
- Conducted home visit, assessed living environments for safety concerns or potential triggers that could impact a client''s mental wellbeing negatively.
- Maintained accurate case documentation and recorded services hours for billing.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina12.2002
Skills
- Strong in advocacy and in self-empowerment
- Active listener and able to objectively analyze during times of crisis
- Keen in Cultural Awareness
- Able to quickly build rapport and a working relationship
- Skilled in Wraparound Coordination
- Trained in Trauma Informed Care and Trust-Based Relational Intervention
- Works with integrity at all times and demonstrates flexibility within the workplace
- Rapidly adapt to use of data programs and possess expertise with MS Excel, SharePoint, Teams Access and Oracle
Accomplishments
- Recognized by the Colorado State's Administrative Review Division for maintaining numerous case files at a hundred percent compliance.
- Selected to pilot a program with the Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority that entailed strategic case coordination and implementation of aftercare services based upon the juveniles/young adults needs with use of wraparound services prior to the juveniles/young adults discharge from their respective correctional and or treatment facilities.
Timeline
Certification Case Worker
Denver Human Services
10.2021 - Current
Social Services Case Worker
Denver Human Services
12.2017 - 10.2021
Student At Risk Coordinator
Communities In Schools-Goose Creek School District
10.2016 - 12.2017
Family Development Worker
Harris County Education-Early Head Start
03.2014 - 10.2016
Foster Care and Adoption Worker
Therapeutic Family Life
07.2011 - 03.2014
Juvenile Probation Officer
Saline County Community Corrections
01.2006 - 07.2010
Adult and Adolescent Mental Health Case Manager
Central Kansas Mental Health Center
06.2003 - 01.2006
Bachelor of Science - Criminal Justice
University of South Carolina
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